Battery powered dish cleaning device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for use in the kitchen sink having a drive shaft, joint assembly, a housing and a storage rack. The drive shaft rotates about an axis of rotation which is defined by the joint assembly. The drive shaft includes an applicator for cleaning a surface. The applicator may be in the form of a sponge, pad, scourer, brush or other cleaning tool. The surface may be that of a dish, glass, piece of cutlery, cooking utensil, pot, pan or other tableware.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/403,262 filed Aug. 13^(th), 2002 by Brian L. Terry, entitled Dishwashing Device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0002] The invention consists of the cleaning tool, comprising an outer water proof housing, rechargeable batteries, electric motor, transmission unit and cleaning sponge, pad or scourer or brush attachment receptacle, a combined storage rack and charging unit and selection of specifically designed brushes and cleaning attachments.

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof, small, lightweight housing ergonomically optimized for ambidextrous use. Operation underwater in a kitchen sink for the purposes of cleaning dishes is provided for but not required.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide for a variety of simply interchangeable brushes and cleaning tools to be run at the correct speed without further operator adjustment.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide for rechargeable batteries integral to the tool, with an associated charging unit mounted into a storage rack. However it will be appreciated that an embodiment incorporating replaceable batteries will not significantly alter the invention.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0006] 1. Field of Invention

[0007] Dishwashing has conventionally been a manual operation using hand held brushes, cloths sponges, or scrubbers with water and dish liquid in a kitchen sink. Contemporary practice in more affluent environments has been to use automatic dish washing machines, but for efficient operation of these to yield clean dishes, a manual pre wash is still required. It is inferred throughout that dishes consist of tableware, dishes, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery, cooking utensils and pots and pans. It is particularly difficult to achieve spotless cleaning of glasses in the automatic dishwasher.

[0008] The current invention is intended to replace the conventional dish brush/cloth/sponge/scrubber for manual cleaning conventionally used for this practice

[0009] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0010] The prior art referenced provides definition of devices for a number of cleaning and scrubbing functions. However, from review, none of the prior submitted art provides for a device specifically intended for the application of cleaning the many varieties of tableware, dishes, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery, cooking utensils and pots and pans. A required feature of such a device, which is met by the present invention, is to provide for a tool small and lightweight enough, be waterproof, and to facilitate quick thumb and forefinger of one hand change of the cleaning sponge, pad or scourer or brush required for each specific task.

[0011] Examples of prior art provide for scrubbing of tiles and bathroom surfaces for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,269 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,632. It will be appreciated that such devices are not readily suited for the precise application of cleaning the many varieties of tableware, dishes, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery, cooking utensils and pots and pans in use in the home or restaurant that the present invention provides for. The examples of prior art will be too large and heavy for this application.

[0012] Examination of many of the prior art finds that what is claimed is design of the device housing to facilitate a certain manufacturing process for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,014, or to facilitate multiple methods of holding the device in use, or providing for an internal cleaning reservoir,

[0013] Another example of prior art presents a method of attachment of cleaning tools for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,115. A method of attachment that only attaches to the outer fibers of the pad, scourer or sponge, as presented for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,115 is inadequate for the purpose and causes premature disintegration of the cleaning pad, scourer or sponge due to the relative force between the cleaning and retained surface. REFERENCES CITED U.S. Patent Documents 4060871 December 1977 Bryerton 4137588 February 1979 Sandt et al. 4168560 September 1979 Doyel 4250587 February 1981 Beck Jr. 5423102 June 1995 Madison 5495632 March 1996 Baker 5511269 April 1996 Watson 5697115 December 1997 Sciarra, et al. 5701625 December 1997 Siman 5706541 January 1998 Gutelius, et al. 5718014 February 1998 deBlois et al. 5950268 September 1999 Murphy et al. 6185781 June 1999 Miller, et al 5956792 September 1998 Gutelius, et al. 5978999 November 1999 deBlois et al. 6185781 February 2001 Miller et al. 6253405 July 2001 Gutelius, et al.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, for the preferred embodiment of the present invention in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external housing and the cleaning pad/scourer/sponge adapter, in the charger/storage unit ready for use.

[0016]FIG. 2 is an underside view of the cleaning device showing the external housing and the device fitting to which the cleaning head adapter is attached, in the charger/storage unit

[0017]FIG. 3 is a side view of the device showing the external housing and the adapter fitting to which the cleaning pad/scourer/sponge base or brush base is attached, in the charger/storage unit.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view defined as A-A in FIG. 2 showing the housing and internal components.

[0019]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning head base fitting for attachment of sponges, pads and scourers and a sponge.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a side view of the cleaning head base fitting for a brush, with a brush suitable for glass or cup cleaning

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Hereinafter the preferred embodiment of a dish cleaner, according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] The preferred embodiment is a dish cleaning appliance, specifically a rechargeable batter operated, waterproof, submersible, hand-held electric dish cleaner with interchangeable brushes and cleaning heads. Submersible is intended to infer operation underwater in a kitchen sink for the purposes of cleaning dishes.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the present invention consists of a cleaning tool housing a battery powered electric motor, a combined storage rack and charging unit, and a cleaning tool base incorporating claw and spike features that enable selection of cleaning pads, scourers, sponges to be attached.

[0024]FIG. 2 shows the underside of the tool, and defines the axis A-A for the sectional view in FIG. 4. The adapter fitting 8 is shown.

[0025]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cleaning device, with the cleaning pad, scourer or sponge base 13 attached.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, the housing 1 consists of a waterproof outer housing 1, featuring a seal 3 to prevent water ingress and make the device waterproof.

[0027] Additionally, referring to FIG. 4, the cleaning tool will incorporate rechargeable batteries integrally, and feature connectors that automatically engages in the storage rack 12, as presented in FIG. 1, which facilitates connection to a wall socket, ensuring a charged up unit ready for instant use.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, the drive system comprises a conventional electric motor 6 with reduction gearing 7 to operate at an optimal base speed for the cleaning process. The rotational speed is designed for optimal cleaning without undue splashing and to promote safe use.

[0029] The brushes and cleaning tools mount to a base fitting 13, presented in FIG. 4, which engages onto the adapter fitting 8, shown also in FIG. 2. The cleaning tool bases snap in with a light finger and thumb force of a quarter turn about the shaft axis until engagement is felt with a slight audible click. The tool retention and engagement is a unique feature of this invention, and ensures only safe appropriate tools are used with the motor unit that can operate at safe optimal speeds for the specific cleaning task.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, the base 15 may be attached to the kitchen wall, or stuck to the work surface by a suction cup in the base.

[0031] Operation of the device is simple. An appropriate cleaning pad, scourer, sponge or brush is attached to the device and then the tool whilst being held lightly in on hand is operated by depressing a trigger 11 under cover 2 with one or more fingers. Release of the trigger immediately stops the device operation for safety

[0032] Referring to FIG. 5 cleaning pads, scourers and sponges, designed for the surface to be cleaned, are interchangeable with the cleaning tool by attachment to the adapter fitting 13.

[0033]FIG. 5 shows the set of multiple spikes 15, and claws 16 that are used to attach the cleaning pad, scourer or sponge. The spikes and claws facilitate rapid and easy attachment of the cleaning pad, scourer or sponge by simply pushing the tool down on a selected cleaning pad, scourer or sponge and briefly operating the device to rotate the drive shaft. The device is then ready to clean.

[0034]FIG. 6 shows a variant of the cleaning tool base 17, for a brush 18.

[0035] Although the invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, obviously changes and variations are possible therein. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand held, waterproof, battery powered dish cleaning device for the purpose of cleaning tableware, dishes, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery, cooking utensils and pots and pans incorporating an adapter fitting and removable base fittings for the attachment of replaceable cleaning sponges, pads or scourers or brush heads to the cleaning device Specifically, in reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the cleaning head base fitting designs are being claimed. The present invention provides for rapid changing of the base fittings by the bayonet stud and slot design which incorporates a quarter turn click snap fitting. The design facilitates rapid and easy change of tool using only a finger and thumb grip on the adapter fitting.
 2. Continuing from claim 1, and Referring to FIG. 5, the attachment of the replaceable cleaning sponge, pad or scourer to the cleaning head adapter fitting is claimed The spikes and claws shown in FIG. 5 provide for rapid and easy attachment of a various replaceable cleaning sponges, pads or scourers for the particular task being performed without the need to replace the cleaning head base fitting itself The design of the claws facilitate engagement with the inner material of the pad scourer or sponge by the action of the pad, scourer or sponge being forced up the ramp angle of the claw in use. The spikes further support the inner fibers of the pad, scourer or sponge and transmit torque to the object being cleaned.
 3. A hand held, waterproof, battery powered dishwashing device that facilitates attachment of replaceable cleaning sponges, pads or scourers or fixed brush heads to the cleaning device that rotate at the optimal rotational speed for efficient cleaning of tableware, dishes, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery, cooking utensils and pots and pans. Optimal rotational speed will enable efficient cleaning, yet not cause excessive splashing or mess around the kitchen sink area, or present an operator hazard. The present invention provides for a device that operates at 300 rpm+/−10% measured at the cleaning sponge, pad, scourer or brush, with sufficient torque to prevent stalling when pushed onto the object being cleaned. 